Sony shows latest high-end Walkman

For many people, smartphones have replaced portable music players as the way to listen to music on the go, but for high-end audio there's still the Walkman, and Sony will preview the latest version on Monday at CES in Las Vegas.

The NW-ZX2 is designed for Hi-Res Audio, a group of digital audio formats that go beyond CD and MP3 in terms of quality. While MP3 or MP4-based formats still rule the consumer market, Sony and other audio makers have been pushing Hi-Res Audio to those serious about their music.

To be considered Hi-Res, audio quality must be 96kHz/24bit or higher. Regular CDs offer 44.1kHz/16bit quality.

The new Sony audio player shares the same large screen on its front as its predecessor, the ZX1, and is based on Android 4.2, which means users can download and install video, apps and games from Google Play.

It has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC connectivity, 128GB of storage, which is enough for about 60 hours of Hi-Res Audio music, and a microSD slot.

A launch date has not been announced, but it will cost $1,200.

Sony is also planning to launch a car audio head unit that's compatible with Hi-Res Audio. The unit will be available in the coming months at a price to be announced.

PCW Evaluation Team

I would recommend this device for families and small businesses who want one safe place to store all their important digital content and a way to easily share it with friends, family, business partners, or customers.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of IDG Communications is prohibited. Copyright 2013 IDG Communications.
ABN 14 001 592 650. All rights reserved.

Contact Us

With over 25 years of brand awareness and credibility, Good Gear Guide (formerly PC World Australia), consistently delivers editorial excellence through award-winning content and trusted product reviews.